The grant funds will support the work of Denise Rokitka, MD, MPH, who is examining the relationship between a history of cancer, depression and other related experiences in children. Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo is one of 41 recipients of Hope On Wheels' 2013 Hyundai Hope Grants. In all, Hope On Wheels will award $10.25 million in grants this September in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The donation is part of Hope On Wheels' annual September Campaign celebrating National Cancer Awareness Month, as a well as a new effort by Hyundai to thank its millions of owners who have helped Hope On Wheels raise more than $72 million in pediatric cancer research funding the past 15 years. Hyundai Hope Grants fund research projects with the greatest potential to improve the lives of children battling cancer. Since 2006, Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo has received $790,000 from Hope On Wheels.

“We thank Hyundai for their commitment to saving the lives of children through support of pediatric cancer research initiatives,” said Dr. Rokitka, attending physician at Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo. “With this grant, Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo has received $790,000 in funding from Hope On Wheels, and we are grateful for Hyundai's continued generosity.”

The $250,000 Hyundai Hope Grant to Dr. Rokitka was officially presented during a Hope On Wheels Handprint Ceremony at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on Thursday, September 12,2013. During the ceremony, Buffalo-area children with cancer placed their handprints dipped in colorful paint on a white 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the official vehicle of Hope On Wheels. Every handprint tells a story and the ceremony celebrates the courageous lives of the children faced with cancer and brings Hope On Wheels' community of supporters together.

Throughout September, Hope On Wheels also will conduct a new social media campaign inviting the public to join the pediatric cancer fight and share stories of children battling cancer to raise awareness about this disease that affects nearly 15,000 new children annually in the U.S. Visitors to Hyundai's Facebook page will be able to lend a hand through the app “Every Handprint Tells A Story”, which allows visitors to add their handprint to an interactive map of hope, as well as watch and read the stories of some of the amazing children. Hope On Wheels collects the handprints of hundreds of children each year, and each represents the hope and courage of an individual child impacted by cancer.

“Hope On Wheels is our fight to end pediatric cancer, and is at the soul of our work at Hyundai. With each car we sell, we make a contribution with our dealers to end this disease,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “We have now raised over $72 million dollars and ask everyone to join us this September on Facebook to raise awareness about this cause.”

Hope On Wheels builds public awareness about the importance of this cause and provides funds to nonprofit children’s hospitals across the U.S. for pediatric cancer research and programs. The nonprofit is funded by Hyundai and its U.S. dealers. With every new vehicle sold in the U.S., Hyundai and its dealers make a contribution to Hope On Wheels.

About Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo

As the regional center for pediatric, obstetrical and perinatal services, Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo is the only hospital in Western New York with a team of pediatric surgeons, a full panel of pediatric primary care and pediatric medical subspecialists on site, including in the Division of Hematology & Oncology and the region’s largest, most advanced and safest neonatal intensive care unit. Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo is ranked by US News & World Report in its special edition of "Best Children's Hospitals". As three of the specialty areas within children's hospitals ranked nationally in this publication, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is among the best children's hospitals in Neurology, Neurosurgery and Cancer care in 2011 – 2012, Gastroenterology in 2012 – 2013 and Neurology and Neurosurgery again in 2013 – 2014.

The Hematology/Oncology Division provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services for children and adolescents with malignancies and blood disorders. Care is provided through an interdisciplinary team approach, including hematologist/oncologists, surgeons, pediatric nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, psychologist and child life specialists. The physicians participate in national studies of the Children's Oncology Group, which undertakes clinical trials evaluating the newest treatments in childhood cancer.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 U.S. dealers. At the end of its 15th year, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will have awarded more than $72 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Assurance includes Assurance Connected Care that provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Hyundai Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for three years. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.